George Beasley Among Those Inducted Into Nat'l Radio HoF

George Beasley

After more than 50 years of making waves in the radio industry, George G. Beasley has made it into the National Radio Hall of Fame.

The Naples News reports, the chairman and founder of Naples-based Beasley Broadcast Group Inc. and its subsidiary Beasley Media Group Inc. was honored along with the other 2016 inductees Thursday night. This year's list includes Delilah, Steve Harvey, Kidd Kraddick and Neil Rogers.

Beasley, 84, was one of four hall-of-famers the nominating committee chose this year for their "contribution to the industry."

The event was held at the Museum of Broadcast Communications in downtown Chicago — the home of the National Radio Hall of Fame.

Beasley launched his first station in 1961 — a 500-watt AM station — in Benson, North Carolina. He built his company from the ground up, selling his first station for a profit and buying another with a more powerful signal in a larger market.

Beasley has been a pioneer in the business, introducing radio to smaller cities and towns throughout the country after the technology became available to take it beyond larger markets.

Over five decades, Beasley's company continued a strategy of buying underperforming stations in growth markets.

After growing up in their family's radio business, four of Beasley's five children joined the company in the 1970s and '80s, taking on leadership roles. The four of them still work for the company, which now owns 69 stations in 16 markets in the United States.

Beasley Broadcast relocated its corporate headquarters to Naples in 1988.

In November, Caroline Beasley, George's only daughter, was named CEO of the family's radio business. She has served as the interim chief executive since March, stepping into the job after her father took a leave of absence for medical reasons. She will assume the permanent role Jan. 1.

Caroline Beasley accepted the hall-of-fame award for her father.

"This is a very special honor for my dad to be inducted in the National Radio Hall of Fame," she said. "I appreciate the steering committee recognizing his many contributions to the radio industry.  He is very honored and humbled."

left to right, MBC’s Bruce Dumont, Mix Group President Jason Garte, Inductees: Tony Roberts, Delilah, Bob Kingsley, Kathy Hart, Eric Ferguson, Tommy Sablan, Jeff Detrow, Jerry Cesak; and NRHOF Chairman Kraig Kitchin.

The 28th Annual National Radio Hall of Fame class of 2016 induction ceremony was a great success as the best of the best in radio were honored.  As the NRHOF was reviewing this year’s inductees, they made note of the ensemble cast behind the Jeff & Jer Showgram.  They decided to include Tommy Sablan who is a critical element in the success of the show.  Joining Jeff and Jer, Sablan is the first on-air producer to be inducted.  He commented on his opportunity to work on the show over 30 years ago, “I didn’t know what to do, but I did it.”

Bob Kingsley received two standing ovations and congratulatory video messages from Keith Urban and Garth Brooks.  Urban commented, “I feel like part of your family. You make everybody feel like family…thank you for everything you’ve done for me.”  Kingsley choked up when he thanked his wife “with all his heart.”

Delilah received a standing ovation from the crowd, whom she addressed through tears and laughter.  She commented, “Radio has been my passion for as long as I can remember.”

Other highlights included Kidd Kraddick’s daughter Caroline accepting on his behalf,